The upgrade option is not presented even though there is a version of Solaris software that's upgradable on the system.
Reason 1: The /var/sadm directory is a symlink or it is mounted from another file system.
Solution:Reason 1: Move the /var/sadm directory into the root (/) or /var file system.
Cause:Reason 2: The /var/sadm/softinfo/INST_RELEASE file is missing.
Solution:Reason 2: Create a new INST_RELEASE file by using the following template:
OS=Solaris VERSION=x REV=0
Is the version of Solaris software on the system
Reason 3: SUNWusr is missing from /var/sadm/softinfo.
Solution:Solution 3: You need to do an initial installation. The Solaris software is not upgradable.
Couldn't shut down or initialize the md driver
If not a mirror, comment out in the vsftab file.
If a mirror, break the mirror and reinstall.
The upgrade fails because the Solaris installation program cannot mount a file system.
During an upgrade, the script attempts to mount all the file systems that are listed in the system's /etc/vfstab file on the root (/) file system that is being upgraded. If the installation script cannot mount a file system, it fails and exits.
Ensure that all file systems in the system's /etc/vfstab file can be mounted. Comment out any file systems in the /etc/vfstab file that cannot be mounted or that might cause the problem so that the Solaris suninstall program does not try to mount them during the upgrade. Any system-based file systems that contain software to be upgraded (for example, /usr) cannot be commented out.
The upgrade fails
The system does not have enough space for the upgrade.
Cause:Check Chapter 5, Guidelines for Allocating Disk Space and Swap Space (Planning) for the space problem and see if you can fix it without using auto-layout to reallocate space.
Problems upgrading mirrored roots
If you have problems upgrading when using Solaris Volume Manager mirrored roots, see “Troubleshooting Solaris Volume Manager” in Solaris Volume Manager Administration Guide.